Sealing device for pressure containers



Aug. 6, 1935. H. RUFENER El AL SEALING DEVICE FOR PRESSURE CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 1, 1933 Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEALING DEVICE FOR PRESSURE CONTAINERS Application September 1, 1933, Serial No. 687,893

In Switzerland November 17, 1932 15 Claims. (Cl. 220-57) This invention relates to certain improvements in sealing devices for pressure containers, and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawing, illustrating what we at present consider to be the preferred embodiment or mechanical expression of our invention from among various other forms, arrangements, embodiments and designs thereof, of which our invention is capable within the spirit and scope thereof.

While it is to be understood that our invention provides a sealing and closing device adapted generally to various types of pressure containers, it is however, primarily designed and intended for use with and to meet the conditions encountered by so-called carbon dioxide "liquifiers" that are charged with solid carbon dioxide and then sealed for conversion of the solid to liquid by the pressures generated through gasiflcation or sublimation of the carbon dioxide therein. With such a fliquefier, the container thereof is charged with solid carbon dioxide and sealed by a removable closure, so that the solid carbon dioxide sublimes and gasifies under the action of heat transferred thereto through the container walls. This conversion or sublimation of the solid to gas within the container finally builds up sufliciently high pressures in the container, of the order of 1000 pounds per square inch, to cause the gas to liquefy under proper temperature conditions. These socalled liquifiers are in use for various purposes and are designed to take the place of the familiar and generally used tanks or cylinders in which liquid carbon dioxide is charged and held under liquefying pressures, which tanks after charging are then shipped to the various points of use.

With such types of liquefiersf, or analogous and equivalent containers, it is necessary to have some form of closure by which the pressure container can be opened for receiving its charge of solid carbon dioxide or other material and which can then be operated to tightly close and seal the container to withstand the high pressures therein without gas leakage and resulting pressure reduction and gas loss.

A main object of our invention is to provide a sealing and closure device for pressure containers, particularly those of the above referred to liquefier types, which device is so designed and arranged as to be readily applied to a container in closing and sealing position thereon, and which can be quickly released and bodily removed from the container to open the same, without requiring a plurality of manually and individually operable closure fastening members, such as bolts, screws, clamps and such like; and further without the necessity of rotating or turning the entire sealing and closing device in applying and removing the same.

A further object of our invention is to provide such a pressure container sealing and closure device, that is bodily removable from and insertible in container closing position, and is mechanically locked into closing and initial sealing position, and released from closing position for removal, by the manual actuation of a single operating member that controls the locking and sealing and its release.

Another object and feature of our invention is to provide in such a sealing and closure device for initial sealing of the container by the act of locking and securing the closure in position on" the container, and then for automatic functioning of the closure under the action of the pressure in the container to increase the sealing action as the pressure within the container increases.

Another object of the invention is to so design and arrange the sealing and closing device that the locking operation is initiated and takes place prior to the preliminary sealing that results from the locking operation, and in releasing the closure device from locked position for removal from the container, the sealing by the device is eliminated prior to the release of the device from locked position.

A further object of the invention, is to provide a simple design of the container and of the sealing and closing device for cooperative relation and positioning of the device on the container for properly and accurately locating the locking and sealing mechanism by the insertion of the device in the container; and further to provide convenient means for grasping the device in applying and removing the same bodily to and from the container.

With the foregoing general objects and results in view, as well as certain others that will appear and be readily understood from the following explanation, our invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combination and arrangements of elements, all as will be more fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section taken as on the line ll, of Fig. 2, disclosing a sealing and closure device mounted in operative position closing and sealing a high Pressure container, the upper end portion only of the container being shown.

Fig. 2 is a view in top plan, with a portion thereof broken away and shown in horizontal section, of the closing device of Fig. 1, in mounted position locked in the end of and sealing the high pressure container.

An example of one possible embodiment and mechanical expression of which a sealing and closure device of our invention is capable is disclosed in the accompanying drawing, and is particularly designed and intended, although not so limited, for use on and with a high pressure container of the so-called liquefier type. Obviously the principles and several features of our inven tion can be mechanically expressed in a variety of other forms and embodiments, and our invention contemplates and includes all such other expressions thereof within its broad scope.

In this illustrated example, a sealing and closure device of our invention includes a looking ring or annular member I providing a supporting structure that carries and has mounted slidably through the wall thereof at spaced intervals therearound the cylindrical locking members or bolts I I, that are disposed radially of and transversely'through this locking ring I0. Each of the locking members or bolts II, extends inwardly through the ring I0 and is provided with the reduced diameter inner end portion or shank I2 that is provided at its inner end with a socket or recess I4 in which a ball I5 is freely revolvably mounted and confined to form an anti-friction bearing to which the axial pressures or forces are applied in actuating these locking members.

The locking ring member I0 is provided with a spider or support frame i6, across its upper top side, which spider provides a central boss II, having a vertical internally threaded bore therethrough in axial alignment with the locking ring ID. A spindle is, is externally threaded and extends downwardly through the threaded bore of the boss I! in vertically disposed position axially aligned with the ring I 0, and this vertical spindle I8 is formed at its lower or inner end with the outwardly flaring, conical head I9, forming the upwardly and inwardly inclined surface 20 therearound. This outwardly flared, conical head I9, is positioned forengagement of its inclined surface 20, by the balls I5 at the inner ends of the locking members or bolts II, so that by raising the screw spindle I8 to raise the head I9 to the position of Fig. 1, with its portion of greatest diameter disposed between and engaged by balls I5, the locking members or bolts II are forced outwardly through the ring IE], to their outwardly projected locking positions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, of the drawing. At the upper end of the vertical spindle I8, there is fixed thereon a suitable hand wheel 2I, by which the spindle is rotated manually or otherwise, to raise and lower the spindle and head I9, to and from position for projecting the locking members or bolts II to their locking position.

The locking members or bolts I I, are normally withdrawn to and maintained in their retracted, unlocked positions by the contractile springs 22 (see Fig. 2, in particular) These springs are each connected between adjacent locking memher or bolts I I, as by the eye members 22a threaded into the members II, so as to continuously exert forces on the members. ll, tending to withdraw or retract these locking members to normal unlocked positions, with their outer ends disposed within the outer surface or faceof the ring member I 0.

With such arrangement, therefore, when the vertical spindle I8 is rotated to lower the conical head I9, the springs 22 act to withdraw and retract members II inwardly from their locking positions, with the balls I5 of the members II, maintained in rolling contact and engagement with the upwardly and inwardly inclined surface 20 of the conical head I9. When the members II are in their retracted and unlocked position, they are forced outwardly to their projected positions against the forces exerted by the springs 22, by actuating the hand wheel 2|, to raise the vertical spindle I8 andthe conical head I9, to the position shown in Fig. 1, with the head l9, forcing the locking members or bolts II, out- ,wardly through ring III, to their projected and locking positons.

The vertical spindle I8 and its locking member actuating conical head I9, is formed with an axial bore extending therethrough from end to end thereof, and a bolt 23, is mounted in and extends slidably and downwardly through the bore of the vertical spindle I8, with the head 24 of this bolt adapted to engage the upper end of the spindle I8, to limit downward movement of the bolt through the spindle. The bolt 23 is of a length to extend downwardly or inwardly beyond the head I9 of spindle I8, and through the ring I0 and a distance therebelow or inwardly therebeyon-d. The lower or inner end of the bolt 23 is of reduced diameter and externally threaded to receive the sealing and closure plate or member This closure plate 25 is formed with an upwardly extended central projection or boss 25, having an internally threaded bore or socket to receive the threaded lower end of the bolt 23, with the closure plate thus secured to and carried by the lower end of bolt 23 in position below and at the under or inner side of the locking ring I0. The closure plate 25 is also preferably of substantially dished or cup-like form to provide the upwardly or outwardly disposed peripheral edge portion or flange 26, for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

The locking ring or supporting structure I0 is provided at its lower or inner, outer edge with an annular groove or recess 21 therearound having an upwardly and outwardly inclined upper-face or wall 21a, and an annular sealing gasket or ring 28, of a suitable flexible or compressible material, is fitted and suitably confined in this recess 21 around the ring it), with its under surfacevertically aligned with and adapted to be engaged by the upper edge of the closure wall or flange 26, of closure 25, and its outer side or face exposed for sealing engagement with a container, as will be later referred to.

It is thus apparent that when the vertical spindle I8 is raised by the hand wheel 2|, to position with the conical head I9 forcing the locking members or bolts II outwardly through ring II], the bolt 23 will be raised by the engagement-of its head 24 with the upper end of spindle I8, and the closure 25 will be raised by the bolt I8 into position with the upper or outer edge of the vertical wall or flange 25 thereof in sealing engagement with the scaling gasket or ring 28. When thespindle I8 is lowered to lower head I9 and permit the springs 22 to Withdraw the locking members I I to their retracted and unlocked position, the closure plate 25 and the bolt 23, Will drop or be lowered by gravity, due to the lowering of the upper end of spindle I8 that is engaged by the bolt head 24, so that the closure plate 25 will move downwardly out of engagement with'the sealing gasket 26, carried by the locking ring III.

In order to limit the downward. movement of the closure plate 25, a bolt 29 is threaded at its lower end into closure 25, and extends upwardly therefrom and slidably through a lug 30 that is formed extending inwardly from the upper portion of the ring H]. A stop pin 3! is extended transversely through the upper end of bolt 29 above lug 3i) and thus engages this lug when the closure plate 25 is dropped or lowered, to thereby limit the distance that the closure plate can drop below the locking ring or supporting structure l3.

For the purpose of handling, that is, applying the sealing and closure device to and removing it from operative petition on ahigh pressure container, we have in this instance provided the diametrically opposite handle and support members 32 that are attached and secured at one end to the upper'edge of locking ring l0, extending a distance upwardly therefrom, and are then extended horizontally and outwardly a distance beyond and radially disposed from the locking ring or supporting structure It.

We have disclosed in the accompanying drawing the upper end portion of a high pressure container 33, that is preferably of the so-called liquefier type and which upper end portion is open and is adapted to be closed and sealed by a device of our invention. In accordance with our invention, the container 33 is provided with the diametrically opposite, vertical and open recesses 34 in the upper end or edge wall thereof, for the purpose of receiving and seating the diametrically opposite handle members 32 of the sealing and closing device, and positioning the ring at the proper position within the container.

' The wall of the container 33 is also provided with a series of openings 35 through the vertical or side wall thereof, corresponding in number to the number of locking members or bolts ll, employed, and spaced :1 distance below the upper edge of the container. These openings 35 are preferably circular and of a diameter to slidably receive the locking member H when these latter are projected therethrough.

In the operation and use of the sealing and closure device of our invention in the form hereinbefore described and with the high pressure container 33 of a so-called liquefier, solid carbon dioxide, or other pressure generating material, is placed in the container and then the closure device is positioned in the openupper end of the container with the handle members 32 seated in the recesses 34 at the upper end of the container for supporting the device in proper position. The relative position and location of therecesses 34 with respect to the locking members I I, and the holes 35, in the container wall, is such that in mounted position of the device as shown in Fig. 1, the handles 32 support and position the locking ring H1 in the container with thelocking members or bolts H, in alignment with the bolt receiving holes 35. In this position andwhen the device is inserted in the open upper end of the container, the vertical spindle l8 and the conical head l9, are in their lowered positions with the locking bolts ll retracted and with the closure plate 25 in lowered position, out of engagement with the sealing gasket 28. The locking ring or supporting structure III has an external diameter but slightly less than the internal diameter of the container and is freely insertible and removable therefrom. By such relative diameter, the sealing gasket is placed in position for sealing engagement with the container wall when compressed by closure 25, or can be designed to make initial engagement as -by a sliding fit with such wall.

After bodily inserting the device and positioning the same by placing the handles 32 in the position, within the open end of the container.

1 Elevation or outward movement of the spindle .5 to raise the conical head l9, simultaneously raises the closure plate 25 into initial and preliminary sealing position engaging the sealing gasket 28 around the lower edge of the locking ring ID. This engagement of the sealing gasket 8 by the upper edge of the closure flange 26, tends to force the gasket 28, aided by the inclined wall 28a of the recess 21; outwardly into sealing engagement with the inner surface of the container wall 33, as will be clear by reference to Fig. 1, of the drawing. Thus, the container 33, is closed and initially sealed by the closure plate 5 and the sealing engagement by the gasket 28 with this closure plate and with the inner surface of the container wall.

Due to the mounting of the closure plate 25 at the lower or inner end of the bolt 23, and the fact that this bolt is freely, upwardly slidable in and through the vertical spindle I8 independently of this spindle and of the locking ring or supporting structure It), as the pressure generated in the initially sealed container 33 increases, this pres- =-ure will move the closure plate 24 upwardly against the sealing gasket 28 with increased force and thus increase the sealing between the gasket 28 and the container wall by more firmly and tightly forcing the gasket into sealing engagement with the container.

The sealing and closure device is readily and quickly bodily removed from the container 33 to unseal and open the same by manipulating the band wheel 2| to lower conical'head, l9 and permit the springs 22 to withdraw the locking bolts H from the bolt receiving holes 35 in the container wall. As the spindle I8 is lowered in this unlocking operation, the bolt 23, with the closure plate 24, is lowered out ofsealing engagement with the gasket 28, so that the seal is broken and eliminated. The entire device can then be bodily lifted and raised from the container by the handles 32. Imthis connection, it is to be noted that in the locking of the device to the container by the bolts I I, the bolts reach locking engagement prior or iriadvance of the sealing engagement of the closure 25 with the sealing gasket 28; while in the operation of unlocking and removing the device from the container, the bolts are released from locking engagement only after the sealing engagement of the closure plate with he gasket 28 has been broken.

In applying the closure and sealing the container, the device is bodily inserted into the open upper end of the container and is automatically located at the proper height and in proper operative position in the container, by the handles 32 seating in the container wall recesses 34, so that all it is necessary to do is to actuate the hand wheel 2|, to force the bolts to locking position and raise the closure plate to sealing position in order to completely seal and close the container.

sealing of the container by the engagement of the closure plate with the gasket 28, it thereby being assured that the closure is securely locked in position prior to the sealing of the container by the closure plate and under the action of the pressure within the container. Similarly, the locking action is maintained during the operation of releasing and removing the device until the sealing action has been broken and released, and then the unlocking is effected and the entire device detached from the container for removal bodily as a unit.

It is also evident that various changes, modifications, variations, substitutions, eliminations and additions might-be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention, and hence, we do not wish to limit ourselves in all respects to the exact and specific disclosures hereof.

What we claim is:-

1. A sealing and closure device for pressure containers, embodying a structure for removable mounting at the open end of a container, radially disposed locking members on said structure for outward projection into locking engagement with a container, means for projecting and retracting said members to and from looking engagement, a sealing member carried at the inner end of and around said structure for sealing engagement with the container wall, a closure member carried by said structure at the inner end thereof and movable relative to the structure to and from sealing engagement with said sealing member, and an operative connection between said closure member and said locking member operating means for moving the closure member into sealing position when the locking members are projected and for movement of the closure from sealing position when the locking members are retracted.

2. A sealing and closure device for pressure containers, embodying a structure for removable insertion in the open end of a container, means on and removable with said structure as a unit for releasably locking said structure in a con tainer, a sealing member around said structure for sealingv engagement therewith and with the container wall to close and seal the open end of the container, and a closure member carried by said structure and movable thereon to and from sealing engagement with said sealing member, said closure forced into sealing engagement with said member by pressure within the container.

3. A sealing and closure device for pressure containers,embodying a structure for bodily insertion into and removal from the open end of a container, means for removably supporting said structure in the container, locking members on said structure movable to and from locking engagement with the container, means for moving said members, a sealing member on said structure for sealing engagement with the container wall, a closure member carried by said structure at the inner end thereof within the container, said closure movable relative to said structure to and from sealing engagement with said sealing member, and an operative connection between said closure member and said looking member moving means for moving the closure member into engagement with the sealing memher when the locking members are moved to locking engagement with the container.

4. A sealing and closure device for bodily insertion in and removal from the open end of a pressure container, embodying in combination, a

supporting structure for insertion in the container and having a sealing member therearound for sealing engagement with a container wall, looking means on the supporting structure for releasably securing the same in position in a container, and a closure member carried from the supporting structure at the inner end thereof and movable relative to said structure to and from sealing engagement with said sealing member.

5. A sealing and closure device for pressure containers, embodying in combination, a supporting structure for mounting in the open end of a container and having a sealing member therearound for sealing engagement with and around the container wall, locking mechanism on said supporting structure for operation to and from locking engagement with the container, means for operating said mechanism, a closure member carried by the supporting structure at the inner end thereof within the container and movable relative to such structure to and from sealing engagement with said sealing member, and means operatively associating said closure member with the locking mechanism operating means for moving the closure member into engagement with the sealing member when the locking mechanism is operated to locking position.

6. A sealing and closure device for pressure containers, embodying, in combination, a supporting structure for mounting in the open end of a container and having a sealing member therearound for sealing engagement with and around the container wall, locking mechanism on said supporting structure for operation to and from locking. engagement with the container, means for operating said locking mechanism, a closure member for the container carried by the supporting structure at the inner end thereof within the container and movable relative to the supporting structure to and from sealing engagement with said sealing member, and means operatively associating said closure member with the locking mechanism operating means for moving the closure member into sealing engagement with said sealing. member when the locking mechanism is actuated to locking position, said closure member in sealing engagement with the sealing member movable outwardly independently of said supporting structure under the action of pressure within the container.

7. In a sealing and closure device for pressure containers, in combination, a supporting structure for mounting in the open end of a container and having a sealing member therearound for sealing engagement with and around the inner surface of the container wall, mechanism on said structure for releasably locking the same in position in the container end, means for operating said mechanism to and from looking position, a closure member for the container carried by the supporting structure at the inner end thereof within the container and movable relative to the structure to and from sealing engagement with said sealing member, and means coupling said locking mechanism operating means with said closure member for moving said member into engagement with the sealing member when the locking mechanism is operated to and has reached looking position, said means coupling the closure with the locking mechanism operating means rel-easing the closure member for movement from sealing when the locking mechanism is actuated to unlocked position.

8. In a sealing and closure device for pressure containers, in combination, a ring member for insertion in the open end of a pressure container, means for supporting the ring member in position from the upper end of the container, 9. plurality of radially disposed locking bolts on and around said ring member for projection into locking engagement with the container wall, a vertical axially disposed spindle on and extending through said ring member, said spindle provided at its inner end with an outwardly flaring conical head for engaging and forcing said locking bolts into projected locking position when the spindle and head are moved outwardly, means for moving said spindle and head inwardly and outwardly to actuate the locking bolt, spring means normally forcing s'aid bolts to retracted unlocked position, said spindle and head formed with an axial bore therethrough, a sealing member on and around the inner side edge portion of said ring member for sealing engagement with and around the inner surface of the container wall, a headed bolt member slidably extending through said spindle bore and a distance inwardly beyond said ring member, a closure for the container carried by the inner end of the bolt member and movable therewith relative to the ring to and from sealing engagement with said sealing member, and said closure member moved to sealing position by the bolt member when said spindle is moved outwardly to project the locking bolts into locking position, said closure member in sealing position movable outwardly independently of said ring and spindle to exert increased sealing pressure on said sealing member under the actionof pressure within the container.

9. In combination, with a pressure container having an open end with a series of locking bolt receiving holes through the side wall thereof adjacent the open end and diametrically opposite recesses formed in the edge of the container wall at the open end, a sealing and closure device for bodily insertion and removal to and from position in the container open end, embodying a supporting structure having opposite radially disposed handle members for fitting in said container recesses to support the structure in position within the open end of the container, a plurality of radially disposed locking bolts on said structure for projection to locking position in said container side wall holes, means for projecting and retracting said bolts to and from locking position, a'sealing member around the irmer end of said supporting structure for sealing engagement with and around the inner surface of the container wall, a closure member carried by said structure at the inner end thereof within the container and movable relative to the container to and from sealing engagement with said sealing member, and said closure member operatively associated with the means for projecting and retracting the locking bolts for movement by said means to sealing position when the bolts are projected and for release for movement out of sealing engagement when the bolts are retracted.

10. In combination, in a sealing and closure device for pressure containers, at supporting structure for removable mounting in the open end of a container, means on said structure for releasably locking the same in position in the container, a sealing member around said structure for sealing engagement with and around the inner surface of the container wall, a'closure for the container carried by said structure at the inner end thereof within the container, said closure movable relative to the supporting structure to and from sealing engagement with said sealing member to I close and seal the container, and means operatively associating the closure with said locking means for moving the closure to sealing position after the locking means reach locking position and 'for movement of the closure from sealing position prior to release of the locking means from looking position.

11. A sealing and closure device for pressure containers, including, a supporting structure for removable mounting in the open end of a pressure container, means for releasably locking said structure in position on the container, a closure member for the container carried from said structure at the inner end thereof within the container, a sealing member interposed between and around said closure and the inner end of said structure for sealing engagement with and around the container wall, said closure movable relative to the supporting structure to and from sealing engagement with said sealing member and to force the latter into sealing engagement with the container wall, and means operatively associating the locking means with the closure member for moving the latter to and from sealing engagement with the sealing member by actuation of the locking means to lock and unlock said supp rting structure to the container.

12. In combination with a pressure container having an open end and opposite recesses in the open end wall thereof; a sealing and closure device for insertion in and removal from the open.

said structure and the closure member for sealing engagement therebetween and with and around the inner wall of. the container, said closure member movable relative to the supporting structure to and from sealing engagement with the sealing member, and operatively associated with said locking means for movement thereby to and from engagement with the sealing member by actuation of the locking means to lock and unlock said supporting structure.

13. In combination, a pressure container having an open end and opposite recesses in the end wall opening through the outer edge of the wall, said container wall also being provided with closure-locking-member-receiving bores therethrough, adjacent the open end thereof, a sealing and closure device for bodily mounting in and removal from the open end of the container as a unit, said device including a supporting structure having opposite laterally projecting members received in said end wall recesses to support and position the structure in mounted position relative to the locking member bores in the container wall, locking members on said structure alined with said wall bores, respectively, and projectable into said bores to lock said structure in the container against outward displacement, means for projecting and retracting said locking members to and from looking position, a sealing member at and around the inner end of said structure for sealing engagement with and around the adjacent inner wall 0! the able relative thereto toward and from said sealing member, said closure member held in. sealing engagement against and tending to force the sealing member into engagement with the container wall, by pressure within the container.

14. In combination in a removable closure unit for pressure containers, locking means for releasably securing said unit in position in the open end or a container, and means operatively associated with said locking means for sealing the unit in closing relation with the container, said sealing means actuated to sealing position by operation of the locking means after said means initially reaches unit securing position, and actuated to unsealed position by operation of the locking means to release the unit from secured position but prior to such release.

15. A removable closure unit for pressure containers, including in combination, a pressure resisting closure member adapted to fit in the open mouth of a pressure container, an open locking ring adapted to fit in the container mouth above the closure member and having retaining means adapted to engage with the container and allow for ready attachment and detachment of the locking ring; the ring having in its lower peripheral portion an annular beveledged groove therearound, a gasket positioned in the ring groove, and means supportable on and bearing upon the container for tightening the closure member against the locking ring through the interposed gasket to wedge the gasket outwardly against the walls of the container and tom a tight seal therewith.

THEOPHIL EICHMANN. HANS RUEENER. 

